Bone plate

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a bone plate and its method of use for reducing a bone fracture, the bone plate having a longitudinal axis, the bone plate comprising an upper surface, a lower surface, a first hole for engaging a head of a first bone anchor. The first hole is configured and adapted to fix a shaft of the first bone anchor along a first axis. A second hole is spaced apart from the first hole along the longitudinal axis. The second hole is for engaging a head of a second bone anchor, and is configured and adapted to fix a shaft of the second bone anchor along a second axis. The first hole and the second hole are configured such that the first axis and the second axis define a single plane and intersect at a point below the lower surface. The shafts of the first and second bone anchors may touch or nearly touch at the point of intersection, such that the first and second bone anchors form a truss.

What is claimed: 
     
       1. A bone plate, comprising:
 a body having a first surface which, in an operative configuration, faces away from a bone on which the plate is to be mounted and a second surface, which in the operative configuration, faces the bone, the body including a first section extending along a first longitudinal axis and a second section extending along a second longitudinal axis angled with respect to the first longitudinal axis; 
 a first hole extending through the body from the first surface to the second surface and defining a first hole axis, the first hole being structured to lockingly engage a head of a first bone anchor inserted therein such that a shaft of the first bone anchor extends along the first hole axis; and 
 a second hole extending through the body and spaced apart from the first hole, the second hole defining a second hole axis and being structured to lockingly engage a head of a second bone anchor inserted therein such that a shaft of the second bone anchor extends along the second hole axis, the first and second hole axes defining a single plane and intersecting at a point on a side of the bone plate facing the second surface, 
 wherein the second section is connected to the first section such that the second section lies in a plane different from that of the first section. 
 
     
     
       2. The bone plate of  claim 1 , wherein the first section and the second section are integrally formed from a single piece of material. 
     
     
       3. The bone plate of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second holes are both located in the second section. 
     
     
       4. The bone plate of  claim 1 , wherein the first section is longer than the second section. 
     
     
       5. The bone plate of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second longitudinal axes are angled at an obtuse angle relative to one another. 
     
     
       6. The bone plate of  claim 5 , wherein the obtuse angle is between about 150 degrees and about 155 degrees. 
     
     
       7. The bone plate of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second longitudinal axes are angled at an acute angle relative to one another. 
     
     
       8. The bone plate of  claim 7 , wherein the acute angle is between about 85 degrees and about 95 degrees. 
     
     
       9. The bone plate of  claim 1 , wherein the body further comprises a transition section connecting the first section to the second section and extending along a third longitudinal axis which is angled with respect to the first and second longitudinal axes. 
     
     
       10. The bone plate of  claim 9 , wherein the third longitudinal axis is angled at an acute angle with respect to at least one of the first and second longitudinal axes. 
     
     
       11. The bone plate of  claim 9 , wherein the third longitudinal axis is angled at an obtuse angle with respect to at least one of the first and second longitudinal axes. 
     
     
       12. The bone plate of  claim 9 , wherein the first surface of the transition section is substantially S-shaped. 
     
     
       13. The bone plate of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the second surface of the second section along the second longitudinal axis defines a radius of curvature. 
     
     
       14. The bone plate of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second holes are both located in the same section. 
     
     
       15. The bone plate of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second holes are configured such that the first and second axes define an acute angle at the point of intersection. 
     
     
       16. The bone plate of  claim 1 , further comprising a third hole extending through the body and defining a third hole axis, the third hole being structured to lockingly engage a head of a bone anchor such that a shaft of the bone anchor extends along the third hole axis. 
     
     
       17. The bone plate of  claim 16 , wherein the third hole axis intersects at least one of the first and second axes. 
     
     
       18. The bone plate of  claim 16 , wherein the third hole is located in a section of the bone plate different from that of the first and second holes. 
     
     
       19. The bone plate of  claim 16 , further comprising a transition section connecting the first section to the second section, the second section being in a plane different from that of the first section, the third hole being located in the transition section. 
     
     
       20. The bone plate of  claim 16 , wherein at least one of the first, second and third holes is threaded to engage a threaded head of a bone fastener. 
     
     
       21. The bone plate of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second holes is threaded to engage a threaded head of a bone fastener. 
     
     
       22. The bone plate of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second hole axes define an acute angle at the point of intersection. 
     
     
       23. The bone plate of  claim 22 , wherein the first and second axes define an angle of between about 30 degrees and about 45 degrees at the point of intersection. 
     
     
       24. The bone plate of  claim 1 , wherein the plane defined by the first and second central axes lies at an angle relative to a plane bisecting the bone plate along the first longitudinal axis. 
     
     
       25. The bone plate of  claim 24 , wherein the angle is between about 3 degrees and about 6 degrees. 
     
     
       26. A system, comprising:
 a bone plate, including:
 a body having a first surface which, in an operative configuration, faces away from a bone on which the plate is to be mounted and a second surface, which in the operative configuration, faces the bone, the body including a first section extending along a first longitudinal axis and a second section extending along a second longitudinal axis angled with respect to the first longitudinal axis; 
 a first hole extending through the body from the first surface to the second surface and defining a first hole axis, and 
 a second hole extending through the body and spaced apart from the first hole, the second hole defining a second hole axis, the first and second hole axes defining a single plane and intersecting at a point on a side of the bone plate facing the second surface; 
 
 a first bone anchor sized and shaped to be inserted into the first hole, the first bone anchor including a head configured to lockingly engage the first hole such a shaft of the first bone anchor extends along the first hole axis; and 
 a second bone anchor sized and shaped to be inserted into the second hole, the second bone anchor including a head configured to lockingly engage the second hole such that a shaft of the second bone anchor extends along the second hole axis, 
 wherein lengths of the first and second bone anchors are selected so that distal tips of first and second bone anchors are adjacent to one another when the heads of the first and second bone anchors are lockingly engaged within the first and second holes, respectively. 
 
     
     
       27. The system of  claim 26 , wherein when the heads of the first and second bone anchors are lockingly engaged within the first and second holes, respectively, the distal tip of the second bone anchor contacts the shaft of the first bone anchor. 
     
     
       28. The system of  claim 26 , wherein when the heads of the first and second bone anchors are lockingly engaged within the first and second holes, respectively, the shaft of the second bone anchor is adjacent to the shaft of the first bone anchor proximate a point distal of the second surface. 
     
     
       29. The system of  claim 26 , wherein the bone plate includes a third hole extending through the body and defining a third hole axis. 
     
     
       30. The system of  claim 29 , further comprising a third bone anchor sized and shaped for insertion into the third hole, the third bone anchor including a head configured to lockingly engage the third hole such that a shaft of the third bone anchor extends along the third hole axis. 
     
     
       31. The system of  claim 30 , wherein the shaft of the third bone anchor contacts at least one of shafts of the first and second bone anchors to form a truss. 
     
     
       32. The system of  claim 30 , wherein a distal tip of the third bone anchor contacts at least one of the shafts of the first and second bone anchors to form a truss.